The death of Don Cornelius , the founder of the `` Soul Train '' television show , has been ruled a suicide , officials said Tuesday .

Cornelius , 75 , died last week of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head , according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Coroner 's Office . His autopsy was conducted Friday .

Toxicology testing has been ordered and the final report will be issued once results are analyzed , the office said .

Cornelius was found February 1 at a house on Mulholland Drive , said Los Angeles police Officer Tenesha Dodine .

In an interview last week with CNN , singer Gladys Knight said Cornelius appeared in ill health when she saw him recently .

`` Last time I saw him , he was pretty sick , '' Knight said . `` He had lost a lot of weight , but he still had that thing about him . ''

Cornelius created a pilot for `` Soul Train '' using $ 400 of his own money , according to the website biography.com . The show was named after a promotional event he put together in 1969 .

`` Soul Train '' is the longest running , first-run , nationally syndicated program in television history , according to the website of Soul Train Holdings . `` During its 37-year run , the show featured such staples as the Soul Train line and performers as important and diverse as Al Green , Ike & Tina Turner , Marvin Gaye , The Jackson 5 , Stevie Wonder , Elton John , Whitney Houston , David Bowie , Justin Timberlake , Janet Jackson and Beyonce , '' according to the website .

People we 've lost in 2012 : The lives they lived

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LA coroner : Don Cornelius died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head

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Cornelius used his own money to launch `` Soul Train '' in 1970

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The program had a 37-year run